Releasable plug connector system

ABSTRACT

A connector system for coupling to an audio jack of an audio player. The system includes an audio plug having a first portion configured to fit into the audio jack, the plug including at least one conductor forming a conducting path with the jack; and, a second portion configured to remain on the outside of the jack of the audio player after the first portion is inserted into the jack, the second portion having at least one contact coupled to the at least one conductor. The jack also includes a protruding edge surrounding the at least one contact. The system further includes a coupler to the plug having a first end having at least one coupling contact disposed thereon to contact the at least one contact on the plug, and a cap surrounding the at least one coupling contact, the cap configured to releasably engage the protruding edge on the plug; and, a receptacle at a second end of the coupler for receiving a standard plug.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119

The present application for patent claims priority to ProvisionalApplication No. 60/762,834 entitled “RELEASABLE PLUG CONNECTOR FORPORTABLE MEDIA PLAYERS SUCH AS IPOD AND MP3 PLAYERS” filed Jan. 27,2006, and assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby expresslyincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to audio, video, data, power and otherinterface connectors for electronic devices and, more particularly, thepresent invention is directed to releasable, or break-away, connectorsfor coupling between electronic devices and their various interfaceconnectors.

2. Background

MP3 and other portable media players and electronic devices have becomequite popular and ubiquitous in recent years. For example, many peoplecarry the IPOD® by Apple Computer, Inc., in their pocket or backpack,where the IPOD is subjected to significant abuse as the users moveabout. One of the most fragile aspects of the IPOD and other mediaplayers is its audio jack and the internal connection circuitry of theplayer to which the audio jack is connected. The audio jack and theinternal connection circuitry form a deep engagement within the player.Coupled with the protruding stem of the audio plug, which is normallycovered by a plastic/rubber sleeve, a cantilever effect isunintentionally created when the audio plug and jack experiences alateral, bending force, or when the cable of the headset is beingtugged. However, when the audio plug and/or jack is excessively impactedor bent due to external forces, the abuse will damage the internalconnection circuitry—eventually rendering the audio jack unusable.

Unfortunately, such abuses are not exclusive to music or media players;the hands-free plug and jack of mobile phones and laptop or desktopcomputers are equally vulnerable. The impact to mobile phone users fromthe loss of the use of the jack is generally not as devastating as thephones could still be used without the hands-free headset. However, forIPODs or other media players, such damage would require the jack to berepaired or replaced. Without a functional jack, a media player such asthe IPOD would become unusable as a listening device.

Certain manufacturers of mobile phones have proposed the use ofcustomized “break-away” interface connectors; avoiding the use oftypical audio plugs and jacks for audio connection to headsets. Laptopmanufacturers such as Apple Computer have also introduced “break-away”power connectors called “MagSafe” to address the issue of damage tolaptops due to impact or bending from typical power plugs. However,these custom connectors are specific to the device to which they areconnected and cannot be used on other electronic devices that do nothave matching receptacles.

It is desirable to have a releasable coupling connector that providesexisting electronic devices with a “break-away” feature. It is alsodesirable to provide the break-away feature without the need for anymodifications to the existing configuration or circuitry of theelectronic device.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a connector system that includes a plugthat will easily break-off from the jack of an electronic device such asa media player when impacted by an external force, especially a lateraland bending one. The connector system provides an intermediary interfacewith a break-away connector that is compatible with the existing jack ofthe media player, as well as the existing plug of the player's headset.The connector system may also be integrated with the cable of a headset.

In one preferred embodiment, the present invention is implemented as aconnector system for coupling to an audio jack of an audio player. Theconnector system includes an audio plug having: i) a first portionconfigured to fit into said audio jack of said audio player, said audioplug including at least one conductor forming a conducting path withsaid audio jack; and, ii) a second portion configured to remain on saidoutside of said audio jack of said audio player after said first portionis inserted into said audio jack, said second portion having at leastone contact coupled to said at least one conductor; and, iii) aprotruding edge surrounding said at least one contact. The connectorsystem also includes a coupler to said audio plug having: i) a first endhaving at least one coupling contact disposed thereon to contact said atleast one contact on said audio plug, and a cap surrounding said atleast one coupling contact, said cap configured to releasably engagesaid protruding edge on said audio plug; and, ii) a receptacle at asecond end of said coupler for receiving a standard audio plug.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention isimplemented as a releasable connector system for a media player, saidmedia player having an existing jack for outputting multimedia signals.The releasable connector system includes a plug, said plug beingconfigured to fit into said existing jack and provide at least oneconducting path from said media player. The releasable connector systemalso includes a receptacle coupled to said releasable coupler, saidreceptacle being disposed to receive a standard plug to provide a secondconducting path from said standard plug. The releasable connector systemfurther includes a releasable coupler having a first portion engaged tosaid plug and a second portion coupled to said receptacle, wherein saidreleasable coupler is configured to separate into said first portion andsaid second portion upon experiencing a predetermined external forcefrom one of said plug and said receptacle

In still yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention isimplemented as a headset for an audio player, said audio player havingan audio jack. The headset includes an audio plug having: i) an insideportion configured to fit into said audio jack of said audio player andproviding a conducting path to said audio jack; and, ii) an outsideportion configured to remain on the outside of said player after saidinside portion is inserted into said audio jack of said audio player,said outside portion comprising a planar contact coupled to saidconducting path. The headset also includes a break-away coupler having:i) at least one contact disposed at a first end of said break-awaycoupler, to contact said planar contact to extend said conducting path;ii) a cap surrounding said at least one contact, disposed to releasablyengage said audio plug; and, iii) a headset disposed at a second end ofsaid break-away coupler, wherein said at least one contact disposed atsaid first end of said break-away coupler extending said conducting pathto said headset.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating exemplary embodiments, are given by way ofillustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications withinthe scope of the following description may be made without departingfrom the spirit thereof, and the description should be understood toinclude all such variations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more readily understood by referring to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector system configured inaccordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plug portion of the connector systemof FIG. 1 configured in accordance with one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the plug portion of FIG. 2configured in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention; 8

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a notched resilient coupler portion ofthe connector system of FIG. 1 configured in accordance with onepreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a non-notched resilient coupler portionof the connector system of FIG. 1 configured in accordance with onepreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a magnetic plug portion of the connectorsystem of FIG. 1 configured in accordance with one preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a magnetic coupler portion of theconnector system of FIG. 1 configured in accordance with one preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the connectorsystem of FIG. 1 having the resilient coupler of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the connectorsystem of FIG. 1 having the magnetic coupler of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the plug and coupler of the connectorsystem of FIG. 1 as used with an IPOD player;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the exemplary plug and coupler of theconnector system of FIG. 1, as integrated with a headset;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a plug portion for a USB connectorsystem configured in accordance with one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the plug portion for the USBconnector system of FIG. 12, taken along line XII-XII of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a plug portion for a USB connectorsystem configured in accordance with another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the plug portion for the USBconnector system of FIG. 14, taken along line XIV-XIV of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a front plan view of the plug portion for the USB connectorsystem of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a plug portion for a power connectorsystem configured in accordance with one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The releasable, or “break-away” connector system as configured inaccordance with the present invention is directed to electronic devicessuch as MP3 players, laptop or desktop computers, gaming consoles orother media players, where an audio jack is used for connecting themedia player to the headset's plug. The releasable connector systemcould be either an add-on coupling connector between a conventionalaudio jack and a conventional headset, or an integrated segment for theaudio plug of the headset. One of the main advantages is to allow thecoupling connector to detach from the audio jack when the couplingconnector experiences a lateral force or impact so as to protect theinternal connection circuitry of the media player.

In the description that follows, instead of specifying “audio,” “video,”“data,” or “power,” reference will be made to “audio” for simplicity.However, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artthat all interface connectors that are susceptible to accidental impactor other damaging forces such as “audio,” “video,” “power” or “data”connectors can readily take advantage of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a connector system 100, configured in accordance withone preferred embodiment of the present invention that comprises threeportions: audio plug 10, a coupler 16, and a receptacle 40. A flexibleextension 43 may also be provided between the coupler 16 and thereceptacle 40, although the length is preferably kept nominal. In onepreferred embodiment of the present invention, receptacle 40 includes anopening 52 configured to accept a plug from a conventional headset.

Reference is made to FIG. 2, where the audio plug 10 is shown. The audioplug 10 includes two sections: section 12 and section 14. Section 12represents the portion of the audio plug 10 that is to be inserted intoan existing audio jack of a media player, as further described herein.Section 14 represents the portion of the audio plug 10 that remains onthe outside of the existing audio jack of the media player after section12 is inserted. Section 14 preferably has a plurality of electriccontacts 15, as illustrated in FIG. 4, for connection with a pluralityof spring-loaded contacts 22 displaced on the coupler 16. The pluralityof electric contacts 15 is comprised of several individual contacts thatcarry the signal from section 12 of the audio plug 10 to the portion ofsection 14 for interfacing with the plurality of spring-loaded contacts22 of the coupler 16. In one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the plurality of electric contacts 15 are planar and arrangedin concentric circles. Section 12 is dimensioned so that it may receivea conventional jack from any audio or video player device. Section 14preferably has a wider diameter than section 12. The plurality ofelectric contacts 15 on the top of the audio plug 10 is surrounded by aprotruding edge 13, which facilitates a releasable engagement with thecap 26 of the coupler 16.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the audio plug 10 of theconnector system 100, taken along line III-III of FIG. 2. The crosssection of the audio plug 10 illustrates a plurality barrels 4 that makeup the plurality of electric contacts 15. The various barrels of theplurality of barrels 4 need to be secured to one another. Otherwise,they will separate and/or fall apart. In order to achieve a planarsurface of the plurality of electric contacts 15 on the audio plug 10,in one preferred embodiment of the present invention each barrel in theplurality of barrels 4 is attached to each other by creating an unevenportion 6 on each of the barrels in the plurality of barrels 4. Theuneven portions allow the plurality of barrels 4 to trap each other whena material such as resin, which also operates as insulation, isdisplaced between each barrel. In one preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, an opening 8 is made in the middle barrel (or made inmultiple middle barrels if there are 4 or more barrels) to allow theinsulating resin to travel from between one barrel to another, andassists in trapping any middle barrels in the assembly of the audio plug10. This approach is an economical approach of producing an audio plugwith the smallest possible form factor, because there are no secondaryparts to assemble in creating the plurality of electric contacts 15 asthe end of each barrel itself is the contact surface for the springcontacts. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, thediameter of the contact surface of the middle pin (i.e., solid barrel)has to be smaller than the inner diameter of the next barrel. The outerdiameter of the contact surface of this barrel also has to be smallerthan the inner diameter of the next barrel, and so on and so forth.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the coupler 16 includes two exemplaryembodiments, B1 and B2. In the B1 embodiment, one end of the cable 16includes the plurality of spring-loaded electric contacts for forming aconducting path with the plurality of electrical contacts 15 on section14 of the audio plug 10. In one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the plurality of spring-loaded electrical contacts 22 isimplemented with tabs. In other preferred embodiments, the plurabilityof spring-loaded electrical contacts 22 is implemented with pins, wires,or other suitable contacts for coupling with the plurality of electricalcontacts 15. An open-ended cap 26 surrounds the plurability ofspring-loaded contacts 22 and is dimensioned in such a way that itfirmly, but releasably, engages the protruding edge 13 of section 14 toform the conducting path. The cap 26 of B1 is preferably made of aresilient material, e.g., polyethylene, such that it allows section 14to be easily engaged by being snapped into section 12 and to easilybreak away when confronted by an external force greater than itspredetermined tolerance. The plurality of spring-loaded contacts 22further ensures solid contact with the plurality of electrical contacts15 on section 14. In other embodiments of the present invention, insteadof being bruised by springs, the plurability.

As shown in FIG. 4, the perimeter of the cap 26 includes a plurality ofnotches 92 formed around it, thus making it easier for section 14 of theaudio plug 10 to be snapped into and broken away (i.e., disengaged) fromthe cap 26. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, asshown in FIG. 5, the perimeter of a cap 24 in embodiment B2 iscontinuous without any notches formed therein. As can be appreciated bythose of ordinary skill in the art, both designs provide the sameengagement/disengagement functionality and the resiliency of the capscan be determined and adjusted based on the material used for the caps,as well as the number or shape of notches formed thereon. Further, inanother preferred embodiment of the present invention, a frictioncoupling between section 12 and 14 may also be used.

Referring again to FIG. 1, and also referring to FIG. 10, in onepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle 40 forreceiving a plug from a device, such as an audio plug from a headset, avirtual-reality goggle or some other device, is displaced on the otherend of the coupler 16. Further, in other embodiments the receptacle 40may be a receptacle for data, power or video plugs, depending on theapplication. As discussed herein, the flexible extension 43 is displacedbetween the receptacle 40 and the connector 16. The length of theflexible extension 43 is preferably kept nominal. In some applications,the flexible extension 43 may be entirely avoided, where the receptacle40 is integrally formed with the other end of the coupler 16 as aone-piece unit, as shown in FIG. 11.

It should be noted that in other preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, the plurality of electric contacts 15, as displaced onsection 14 of the audio plug 10, may be instead displaced on the coupler16, while the plurality of spring-loaded contacts 22, as displaced onthe coupler 16, may be implemented on the audio plug 10. Further, theprotruding edge 13 of section 14 of the audio jack 10 may be implementedon the coupler 16 instead, while the resilient cap may be implemented onthe audio plug 10. In fact, the displacement of the plurality ofcontacts/spring-loaded contacts, and the protruding edge/cap could eachbe differently configured based on different design considerations. Itis noted that, in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, thelength of audio plug 10 that protrudes above the jack into which it isinserted is kept as short as possible, so as to reduce the leverageeffects when a lateral force is experienced by the audio plug 10 and/orthe coupler 16.

Additionally, instead of using the plurality of electric contacts 15 andthe complementary plurality of spring-loaded contacts 22, various othercontacting methods could be utilized. For example, in lieu of a planarand concentrically circular configuration, the plurality of electricalcontacts 15 may be of hemi-spherical, spherical or curved shapes, withthe plurality of spring-loaded contacts 22 being modified to match themodified shape of the plurality of electrical contacts 15. Those ofordinary skill in the art should be able to devise suitable electriccontacts for a conductive path that is engaged by a releasable fitbetween the parts.

Referring to FIG. 10, an exemplary deployment of the connector system100 in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present inventionis shown. The audio plug 10 is inserted into an audio jack of anexemplary IPOD player 41. It should be noted that the figure is not toscale and the connector system 100 may be sized differently in relationto the IPOD player 41. The coupler 16 firmly, yet releasably, engagesthe audio plug 10 by its resilient cap 26 clamping onto the protrudingedge 13 of the audio plug 10. A headphone audio plug on a conventionalheadset (not shown) can be inserted into the opening 52 in receptacle 40at the other end of the coupler 16. Whenever a lateral force exceeding apreset tolerance is applied to the audio plug 10 or the coupler 16, thecap 26 readily separates from the audio plug 10 so as to avoid damagingthe internal connection circuitry of the audio player 41. To resume theuser's listening activity, the user can simply re-attach the cap 26 ofthe coupler 16 to the audio plug 10.

As shown in FIG. 11, the receptacle 40 may be entirely eliminated byintegrating a cord 45 of the headset 42 directly onto the coupler 16. Inthis embodiment, the cord 45 of the headset 42 would be terminated withthe plurality of spring-loaded contacts 22 of the break-away coupler 16and the audio plug 10 of the present invention. Thus, the conventionaljack normally used on the headset 42, as well as the receptacle 40,could be entirely eliminated.

FIG. 6 illustrates an audio plug 10 a configured in accordance toanother preferred embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 7illustrates a coupler 16 a configured to attach to the audio plug 10 a.Referring to both figures, another embodiment of attaching the couplerto the audio plug is now described. In this embodiment, instead of usinga resilient material for engaging the cable to the audio plug 10 a, afirm engagement is achieved by using a cap 30 on the coupler 16 a. Asshown in FIG. 6, the audio plug 10 a is similar to the audio plug 10 asit also has a plurality of electric contacts 15 on the top section 14 aof the audio plug 10 a. Audio plug 10 a does not include a protrudingedge at its perimeter to engage to the coupler 16 a. Instead, in onepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the audio plug 10 aincludes a band 32 surrounding its side to attach to the coupler 16 a.Also, the coupler 16 a has a cap 30 enclosing a plurality ofspring-loaded contacts 28.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cap 30includes a magnet so that it can be releasably attached to the band 32of the section 14 a of the audio plug 10 a magnetically. It should benoted that, in another embodiment, the cap 30 can be a metal part, whilethe band 32 includes a magnet. Or, in yet another embodiment, both thecap 30 and the band 32 could include magnets, but with opposing magneticpolarities. The band 32 is added for the magnetic version of theconnector when the other parts of the audio plug 10 a is made fromchrome or gold-plated brass as neither of these are magnetic. Ingeneral, to create a magnetic coupling, the cap 30 and the band 32 bothneed to include materials that are magnetically compatible in nature.

FIG. 8 illustrate the resilient embodiment of the connector system 100in a cross-sectional view, where the plurality of electric contacts 22is biased by a spring 38 in the coupler 16 and surrounded by the cap 26,which acts to clamp the audio plug 10. The audio plug 10 has theprotruding edge 13 surrounding the planar contact 14 for being clampedby the cap 26. The spring 38 is shown displaced directly behind theplurality of contacts 22. As described herein, instead of a spring, theplurability of electrical contacts 22 may be biased with othermechanisms or simply be biased through the material properties of thecontacts.

FIG. 9 illustrates the cap 30 surrounding the plurality of electriccontacts 28, biased by a spring 39, where the cap 30 is made of amagnetic material for attachment to the band 32 of the audio plug 10 a.The strength of the magnetic forces can be readily determined based onthe specific design requirements and suitable magnetic elements may beused.

While the above description is made with reference made to an audio plugconnector, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention can be readily applied to other interface connectors, such asUniversal Serial Bus (USB), Institute of Electrical and ElectronicEngineers (IEEE) 1395 (also known as “Firewire”), various video (e.g.RCA), audio (e.g., 6.3 mm audio, 3.5 mm audio, and/or 2.5 mm audio),and/or power connectors.

FIG. 12 illustrates a data plug 110 configured in accordance with onepreferred embodiment of the present invention for connection with a USBport. The data plug 110 includes two sections 112 and 114. Section 112represents the portion of the data plug 110 that is to be inserted intothe USB port, while section 114 represents the portion of the data plug110 that remains on the outside of the USB port after the data plug 110has been inserted. Section 114 preferably has a plurality of electriccontacts 115 for connection with a plurality of complementary contactson a suitably configured coupler (not shown) for a USB cord, similar tothe audio coupler disclosed herein. Data plug 110 includes a protrudingedge 113 having a function similar to the protruding edge 13 of theaudio plug 10.

FIG. 14 illustrates a data plug 110 a configured in accordance with asecond preferred embodiment of the present invention for connection witha USB port. The data plug 110 a includes two sections 112 a and 114 a.Section 112 a represents the portion of the data plug 110 a that is tobe inserted into the USB port, while section 114 a represents theportion of the data plug 110 a that remains on the outside of the USBport after the data plug 110 a has been inserted. In one preferredembodiment of the present invention, section 114 a is constructed tomagnetically couple to a suitably configured coupler (not shown) for aUSB cord, similar to the audio coupler disclosed herein for the audioplug 10 a. In this preferred embodiment, section 114 a of the data plug110 a includes a band 132 surrounding a housing 194 a of the data plug110 a. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, theband 132 can also formed as part of the housing 194 a of the USB plug.Similar to the band 32 used for the audio plug 10 a, the band 132 may bemade of steel, magnet or any material that is magnetic in nature. Ingeneral, to create a magnetic coupling between the band 132 and the capon the coupler of the USB cable, the band 132 and the cap both need toinclude materials that are magnetically compatible in nature. Further,section 114 a preferably has a plurality of electric contacts 115 a forconnection with a plurality of complementary contacts on the coupler forthe USB cord.

FIGS. 13 and 15 illustrate perspective cross-sectional views of the dataplugs shown in 12 and 14, respectively, with the data plug 110illustrated in FIG. 13 configured to couple to a snap adapter, and thedata plug 10 a illustrated in FIG. 15 configured to couple to a magnetadapter. As illustrated in these figures, each embodiment of the dataplug has the plurality of electric contacts 115 (or 115 a) extendinginto a plurality of USB contacts 104 (or 104 a) that are integrated intoa connector body 108 (or 108 a) with a shielding 194 (or 194 a)displaced around the connector body 108 (108 a). In one preferredembodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 16, theprofile of the data plug 110 is configured to have a keying feature suchas the exemplary trapezoidal shape to prevent users from inserting thedata plug 110 into the coupler the wrong way. Since the contacts arearranged linearly, inserting the data plug 110 into the coupler thewrong way could cause problems. In other embodiments, other approachessuch as different keying features and/or different contact/connectorlayouts can be used to minimize the problem of the user inserting thedata plug 110 into the coupler the wrong way.

In the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 13 and 15, in one preferredembodiment of the present invention, the ends of the plurality of USBcontacts 104 (or 104 a) are formed into flat areas as the plurality ofelectric contacts 115 (or 115 a) to be engaged by a plurality ofcomplementary contacts (not shown) in the coupler. As described herein,the plurality of complementary contacts may be spring-loaded. In onepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of USBcontacts 104 (or 104 a) are in the shape of pins that are inserted intothe connector body 108 (or 108 a), rather than having plastic beingmolded around the plurality of USB contacts 104 (or 104 a). Features canbe added to prevent the plurality of USB contacts 104 (or 104 a) fromfalling out. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, aflange (e.g., the protruding edge 113 or the band 132, respectively) isdisplaced around the metal shield (e.g., the housing 194 or 194 a,respectively) to trap the plastic housing (e.g., the connector body 108or 108 a, respectively). The USB standard also requires the shield to bewired, so the flange area next to the first and last contact is broadenough to act as a conduction path for the spring contacts. Further, theplurality of USB contacts 104 (or 104 a) themselves are used to createthe plurality of electric contacts 115 (or 115 a) as the contacts toconnect to the plurality of complementary contacts on the coupler andthus no extra parts need to be assembled to form these contacts, therebyminimizing the overall size of the connector and reducing manufacturingcost.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, slight variationsfrom how most data connectors are made that may be accommodated toimplement the invention. For example, connectors conforming to theDeutsches Insitut für Normung eV (DIN), the standards-settingorganization for Germany, use cylindrical pins. Rather than bending thepins like in the USB plug, cylindrical pins may be machined flat to formcontact surfaces.

FIG. 17 illustrates a power plug 210 configured in accordance with onepreferred embodiment of the present invention for connection with apower port. The plug 210 includes two sections 212 and 214. Section 212represents the portion of the power plug 210 that is to be inserted intothe power port, while section 214 represents the portion of the powerplug 210 that remains on the outside of the USB port once the power plug210 has been inserted into the power port. Section 214 preferably has aplurality of electric contacts 215 for connection with a plurality ofspring-loaded contacts on a suitably configured coupler (not shown) fora power plug, similar to the audio coupler disclosed herein.

It should be noted that for connectors like audio plugs and some powerplugs, the contacts are concentric because the plugs are cylindrical.However, for data connectors like USB or Firewire that are rectangular,the contacts may follow a linear arrangement. One similarity between allthese connectors is that the pins/barrels will be the contact surfacefor the adapter to attach to, without the need to add in secondaryparts. Further, for data connectors such as USB or Firewire, a metalelement such as steel for attracting a magnet does not have to be addedbecause the connectors typically already have shields made of steel.

The embodiments described above are exemplary embodiments. Those skilledin the art may now make numerous uses of, and departures from, theabove-described embodiments without departing from the inventiveconcepts disclosed herein. Various modifications to these embodimentsmay be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the genericprinciples defined herein may be applied to other embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the novel aspects describedherein. Thus, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limitedto the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scopeconsistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. Theword “exemplary” is used exclusively herein to mean “serving as anexample, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as the most preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments. Accordingly, the present inventionis to be defined solely by the scope of the following claims.

1. A connector system for coupling to an audio jack of an audio playercomprising: a) an audio plug comprising: i) a first portion configuredto fit into said audio jack of said audio player, said audio plugincluding at least one conductor forming a conducting path with saidaudio jack; ii) a second portion configured to remain on said outside ofsaid audio jack of said audio player after said first portion isinserted into said audio jack, said second portion having at least onecontact coupled to said at least one conductor; and, iii) a protrudingedge surrounding said at least one contact; and, b) a coupler to saidaudio plug comprising: i) a first end having at least one couplingcontact disposed thereon to contact said at least one contact on saidaudio plug, and a cap surrounding said at least one coupling contact,said cap configured to releasably engage said protruding edge on saidaudio plug; and, ii) a receptacle at a second end of said coupler forreceiving a standard audio plug.
 2. The connector system of claim 1,further comprising a cable coupled to said at least one coupling contactand to said receptacle.
 3. The connector system of claim 1, wherein saidat least one contact comprises a plurality of planar contacts.
 4. Theconnector system of claim 1, wherein said at least one contact comprisesa plurality of contacts arranged in concentric circles.
 5. The connectorsystem of claim 1, wherein said at least one coupling contact is biasedagainst said at least one contact with a spring.
 6. The connector systemof claim 1, wherein said second portion has a larger diameter than saidfirst portion.
 7. The connector system of claim 1, wherein said cap hasa plurality of notches formed thereon.
 8. The connector system of claim1, wherein said protruding edge and said cap are magnetically coupled.9. The connector system of claim 1, wherein said protruding edgecomprises a magnetic material.
 10. The connector system of claim 1,wherein said cap comprises a magnetic material.
 11. The connector systemof claim 8, wherein said cap is configured to be releasably engagedmagnetically to said protruding edge until a force of a predeterminedamount is applied to at least one of said cap and said protruding edge.12. A releasable connector system for a media player, said media playerhaving an existing jack for outputting multimedia signals, comprising:a) a plug, said plug being configured to fit into said existing jack andprovide at least one conducting path from said media player; b) areceptacle coupled to said releasable coupler, said receptacle beingdisposed to receive a standard plug to provide a second conducting pathfrom said standard plug; and, c) a releasable coupler having a firstportion engaged to said plug and a second portion coupled to saidreceptacle; wherein said releasable coupler is configured to separateinto said first portion and said second portion upon experiencing apredetermined external force from one of said plug and said receptacle.13. The releasable connector system of claim 12, wherein said firstportion and said second portion of said releasable coupler comprises aplurality of planar contacts and a plurality of biased contacts, andwherein said plurality of planar contacts and said plurality of biasedcontacts electrically couple said at least one conducting path and saidsecond conducting path.
 14. The releasable connector system of claim 13,wherein the plurality of planar contacts comprises a plurality ofcontacts arranged in concentric circles.
 15. The releasable connectorsystem of claim 13, wherein said engagement of said first portion andsaid second portion of the releasable coupler is accomplished by one ofa clamping force and a magnetic force.
 16. The releasable connectorsystem of claim 12, further comprising a cable coupled between saidsecond portion of said releasable coupler and to the receptacle.
 17. Thereleasable connector system of claim 13, wherein at least one of saidplurality of biased contacts is biased against at least one of saidplurality of planer contacts with a spring.
 18. The releasable connectorsystem of claim 13, wherein said second portion has a larger diameterthan said first portion.
 19. The releasable connector system of claim12, wherein said releasable coupler comprises a plurality of notchesformed thereon.
 20. The connector system of claim 12, wherein said firstportion comprises a magnetic material.
 21. The connector system of claim12, wherein said second portion comprises a magnetic material.
 22. Aheadset for an audio player, said audio player having an audio jackcomprising: a) an audio plug, comprising: i) an inside portionconfigured to fit into said audio jack of said audio player andproviding a conducting path to said audio jack; and ii) an outsideportion configured to remain on the outside of said player after saidinside portion is inserted into said audio jack of said audio player,said outside portion comprising a planar contact coupled to saidconducting path; and b) a break-away coupler, comprising: i) at leastone contact disposed at a first end of said break-away coupler, tocontact said planar contact to extend said conducting path; ii) a capsurrounding said at least one contact, disposed to releasably engagesaid audio plug; and iii) a headset disposed at a second end of saidbreak-away coupler, wherein said at least one contact disposed at saidfirst end of said break-away coupler extending said conducting path tosaid headset.